Felizidades Melissa!

Melissa at 320 Sycamorewas chosen for an interview from Houzz.com.Melissa and her husband has renovated her 1970's Ranch home to a home you'd want to nest with your family.

After reading her interview,

I'm sure you'll find something positive to comment. If you leave a comment,

you could have a chance to

win a $50 gift certificate from Target.

Hurry you have until Sunday, November 22, at 5pm EST.

Make sure you stop by and congratulate Melissa.

A Fanciful Celebration and more

Make sure you visit A Fanciful Twist for her Halloween Celebration and visit her guests who also participated for a Fanciful Delight.

Melissa at Out numbered 3 to 1 is having a birthday bash! Stop by and visit for a chance to win great giveaways. Like a Jonas Dog from Build-A-Bear or birthday gift set or darts and other great giveaways.

My favorite Month

I heart October. It's like spring all over again here in the Phoenix Valley. It was 105 degrees yesterday and today it was 95 degrees and dropping:) The weather is beautiful. Yet, its time to collect wood for weekends by the fire pit. Hayrides and spooks. Hot cocoa and soup, not to mention Carmel apples and popcorn balls. Try this recipe from Country Living for Caramel Candied Apples and click on the link. I'm including a recipe for caramels by Edna Nelson, which I found, and please correct me if I'm wrong, from Kevin and Amanda who has lots of easy and delicious recipes, many moons ago. In case you cannot read it below...

2Cups of Sugar

2 Cups of Cream

1 3/4 cup of Light Karo Syrup

1 Cup of butter (the real stuff not margarine)

1 tsp. Vanilla

optional: nuts

Boil the sugar, Karo Syrup, butter, and half of the cream (7/8 cup).

After Boiling, SLOWLY add the rest of the cream. Cook to form ball stage. Add nuts if desired. Pour onto buttered pan, and cool.

I wanted to share some Halloween fun going on.

Please share of any other party you might know of so we can all visit.

Robin at Lolidot.com is having always having fun giveaways. Now she is having a "Spooktacular" Event.

Be sure to visit October 12th - the 17th.

At A Fanciful Twist, Vanessa is a very artistic Arizonian.

She currently, among other blogger's, are getting ready for her Halloween Extravaganza on October 17th, 2009.

You must check out her creativeness.

You'll find potions and much more!
Even find the labels to create your own potions.

You can find labels also at Love Manor to create your own potions. Even a recipe for Dead Man's Toes, sounds delicious:) I prefer fresh meat.

Here's a peak at Love Manors home.

I also wanted to share ideas for Halloween Decorations and/or Halloween Party Themes I have found surfing the net. Or shall I say flying on my broom stick up at the sky and looking over blogs? At Martha Stewart I thought this table set up was grand. Oh, from A Wicked Good Time: macabre banquet table (featuring Slithered Scream Beans, Cauldron Curry, and Squeamish Squash with Rice).

At Martha Stewart I found this cute party favor.

I forgot to grab the link so you'll have to search her website.

At Hostess with the Mostess, a twilight party was thrown in April,

but why not use some of her fun for Halloween Night?

Every thing was planned well from the red vines that Bella ate for treats, to different types of blood to drink, quotes, lip shine for that perfect vampire kisses, Esme’s line: “We’re making Italiano for you.” to display on the buffet table by the Italian food, and mood lighting created with white twinkle lights & candles. It is a must to visit for us Twilight fans.

Or maybe your into a Ghouls Night Halloween Party?

Or Modern Midnight Madness?

Or Playful Mod Halloween Party?

Or Spooky Chic Dinner Party?

You can find these Ideas and instructions to her idea at Hostess with the Mostess, just click on the pictures for direct link.

Well, This is just a few of the fun posts I will include this month.

So please check frequently.

This month is going to be better than the last.

That is unless there is another spell on my computer.

Current Giveaways!

There are several giveaways going on right now. Some have a deadline by tonight like at Baby Loving Mama, she is giving away a Coach Wallet from Jomashop.com.

Lollipops and Polkadots always have great giveaways as well. I recently won a Knucklehead T-shirt that my grandson will wear on his 1st birthday.

Just click on the buttons to take you to their sites.
And don't forget, until the end of this month I'm having my own giveaway.

Tell a friend of my 100 post Celebration.

Comment that you spread the word for an extra entry.

But don't comment here, click here.

Buena Suerte! Good Luck!

Reminder of Giveaway.

Have you heard? Spread the word.

Tell a friend of my 100 post Celebration.

Comment that you spread the word for an extra entry.

But don't comment here, click here.

Buena Suerte! Good Luck!

100th post Giveaway

Its been a year and 100 posts later
since I've been blogging!

So I was thinking,
since you put up with my ramblings,
I would celebrate by having a giveaway.
I haven't decided what I would put in this care package
to share with my readers.
I was thinking I should do a theme...like Things I collect,
My favorites, Things from AZ, Vintage Collection,
Fun Night, or In the kitchen.
In any case,

I will post a peek of my giveaway later this week.
Until then, have a cupcake, or two. To enter you must answer the following question.

What would you wish for,
if you blew out the candle?

All comments must be posted by noon,
MST (Arizona Time) on Sunday, August 30th
in the 100th post giveaway comments.
Winner will be announced on Monday, August 31st.

Can you believe I never won a thing and now...

I have never won anything,

that I can think of, and today, I won two things.

I was most excited to win chocolate from the Frugal Gals. Then later I won a Knucklehead T-Shirt for my grandson From Lollipops and Polkadots. Maybe I should buy a Power Ball, no I'm sounding greedy now. But $186 million does sound nice:) Thank you so much ladies:) Please visit their sites.

I came across some other giveaways. I thought you might like to visit.

You need to hurry some deadlines are sooner than others.

1. Lines of Communication (and a $200 Visa gift card) from Smockity Frocks http://smockityreviews.blogspot.com/
2. Bake and Destroy Apron from Cupcake Provocateur
   http://cupcakeprovocateur.blogspot.com/
3. Me4Kidz MediBuddy & So Cozy Goodie Bag from Lollipops & Polkadots
   http://www.lolidots.com/giveaways/
4. Momtrends has several giveaways before 8/31 including mocasins, Build-a-Bear, Swatch and others you need to take a peak at:)
   http://momtrends.blogspot.com/2009/08/nowali-mocasins.html
5. Beach Blanket Party from Lil Bit Old*Lil Bit New
   http://lilbitoldlilbitnew.blogspot.com/
6. Giveaway at Apron Girls sponsored by great cookware and beautiful desks! http://www.aprongirls.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for visiting:)

Apron Fest '09 Winner

I finally drew a name for the

Apron Fest '09 Giveaway,

or should I say a Clone Trooper and
Princess Snow White drew names.

First, Thank you to all that entered.

I browsed each site that provided a link,

& I was inspired and delighted by many.

I have been overwhelmed by the kind words

and memories of aprons you all have said!

For more memories of aprons visit

http://www.apronchronicles.com/chronicles/ada.html

or click the button below.

Make sure you have a tissue or two,

all the portraits and voices made me tear up.

The first winner

that was chosen is...
Damaris said...
my apron memory- I grew up in Brazil. My grandma has this huge kitchen and makes really good food. She always wears an apron. She would let me wear her apron if I ate all my food. I know love aprons and send her a new one every year for her birthday.

You may choose from the full Denim Apron

or

the Half apron with the embroidered pocket:)

Felizidades Damaris!!!

The second winner...

And I must say why I chose to have a second winner.

After Apron Fest started,

I received a call that my friend Carol R. was

going under surgery for breast cancer.

We all prayed that the Dr.'s get everything.

Apparently, she will have to go through Chemotherapy.

& it looks like she'll beat it.
Carol is a wonderful friend and I have never heard her say anything wrong about anyone, expect her first husband, who she survived domestic abuse from.

If she can beat the odds of abuse,

and now have a loving husband who is by her side,

along with friends who love her,

she can beat this!

We have a long road ahead of us and lot's of prayers.

So, I decided to make a breast cancer awareness half apron,

with a ruffled pocket.

I dedicate this apron to Carol R.,

those fighting or survived breast cancer, and in fact, any cancer.

So, the second winner is:

Kathy said...
Thank you for the chance to win one of your aprons. And thank you for the story about your grandma. I miss mine so much. I wish my husband could of met her. I have memories the most at Christmas time. Making cookies and fudge. I now make everything with my 6 yr. old granddaughter. I think its neat to have different aprons because it can change you personality. Come check my blog contest out as well tomorrow. www.lilbitoldlilbitnew.com
Felizidades Kath':)

This was so much fun to get to hear from other blogger's and readers. I will definitely be doing something like it again soon, since I will be hitting my 100th post. So please come back and check out the blog once in a while!

¡Gracias A Todos!

Thank You Everyone!

Here is the drawing for the winners.
I had problems reading the folded papers and holding the camera.

Who could it be? Apron Fest '09

Although I feel all of the above symtoms,

and soreness from slipping and landing on my buttocks,

I am laying in bed,

under the weather, and

No, I'm not pregnant.

I have my aprons done and have delayed the winner until 6pm MST.

So hurry, if you have not entered yet, do so now.

Oh and yes, aprons,

I have decided

since I have pushed the winner announcement a day,

I will add two winners.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Apron Fest '09

¡Ay, Caramba! I'm late for the

What is Apron Fest? I will tell you at the end of this post.

First I want to share my memory of Aprons.

My memory of aprons start with

my Abuelita Regina O. Gonzalez-Ayala.

She is like Martha Stewart. My grandma was a florist and would create arrangements for regional church conferences and films filmed in El Paso and I even met Jack Nicholson. She would make good Mexican food, to this day I don't like Mexican food restaurants because it's not like my grandmas. Everything is by scratch not canned beans, not canned enchilada sauce, and her mole sauce is heavenly (a Chile/chocolate cinnamon type of BBQ sauce). She could sew, she could can food, make crafts, she would iron her sheets and everything in between, she could knit and crochet, she would make everything by scratch like pie crusts, buñuelos, biscuits. I'm getting hungry. Actually, my grandma surpassed Martha Stewart. She is a real pioneer woman.

My memories with my grandma were most memorable in the kitchen with my Tia's. Everyone wearing an apron. We would talk about memories and girl talk, because we did not "gossip", today we call it networking, heehee.
This is my Abuelita holding my dad.

Here you'll see a couple of my aprons hanging in my kitchen.

The white one with the embroider is my first apron.

My grandma gave it to me when I was pregnant with my first child.

She said she made it when she was pregnant with my dad.

That would make my apron 64 years old, sorry dad.

The rest is history! That is when I started sewing and collecting aprons.

Now here is your chance to win one of my aprons.

I will post a picture of my apron giveaway later.
To enter contest, all you have to do is briefly comment here

What memory do you have with aprons?

It can be a memory of something

you cooked, cleaned, or made crafts in.

Post your comment (one entry per name)

by Saturday 6pm Arizona Time.

What is Arizona Time? Here in AZ, we don't mess with our clocks for daylight savings time. It stays the same. I know California is the same time now.

El Paso, TX is an hour ahead.

So I think we are currently considered CST. Anyways,

I will have one of my princesses draw the winner's name this Saturday evening. Please include your email address. So I can mail the apron to you.

Now git on over to Apronista.com to checkout all the other giveaways going on
Click on the button to joint the fun at Apronista.com
for more information on participating

(It can be homemade, store bought, or a vintage find)

or just signing up for chances

to win a free apron from other participants.

Good Luck!

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Switchflops Giveaway!

How Cute Are These?!!

Or This?

Or This?

Lindsay Phillips is generously giving One lucky reader from

Lollipops & Polka Dots a pair of SwitchFlops !!
Just click the button or to the link for your chance to win a SwitchFlop from Lindsay Phillips collection.

http://lolidots.com/giveaways.php

Contest open until Friday July 31st at midnight central US time so hurry!

Ciao for now,
Arnnette